The boke of curtasye, an English poem of the fourteenth century

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R_ M,CHAEU'S COLLEGE
8 TORONTO 5, CANADA

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THE BOKE OF CURTASYE,

THE

BOKE OF CURTASYE,

OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

EDITED BY

JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL,

LONDON :
PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY,

BY C. RICHARDS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE.

MDCCCXLI.

COUNCIL

OF

Cfte

President.
THE RT. HON. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A,

THOMAS AMYOT, ESQ. F.R.S. TREAS. S.A.
WILLIAM HENRY BLACK, ESQ.
J. A. CAHUSAC, ESQ. F.S.A.
WILLIAM CHAPPELL, ESQ. F.S.A. Treasurer.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. F.S.A.
T. CROFTON CROKER, ESQ. F.S.A. M.R.I.A.
REV. ALEXANDER DYCE.

JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, ESQ. F.R.S. M.RJ.A.
G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.

WILLIAM JERDAN, ESQ. F.S.A. M.R.S.L.
CHARLES MACKAY, ESQ.
T. J. PETTIGREW, ESQ. F.R.S. F.S.A.
E. F. RIMBAULT, ESQ Secretary.
JAMES WALSH, ESQ
THOMAS WRIGHT, ESQ. M.A. F.S.A.

PREFACE.

THE following poem, which is now for the first
time printed, from MS. Sloane 1986 (a small
manuscript on vellum, of the fourteenth century),
is perhaps one of the most singular relics of the
kind that could have been placed before the notice
of the antiquarian reader. In style of com-
position it is very similar to the curious poem
which I printed some time since in my " Early
History of Freemasonry in England," — in fact,
so much so, that I am almost inclined to think,
on comparing the two together, that they may
possibly be the work of one writer. The same
language, and in some instances the same phrases,
may be distinctly traced.

Immediately following this poem, in the same
manuscript, is another, in the same hand, en-
titled " Liber Cocorum," a poem on the science
of cookery as practised by our ancestors in the
fourteenth century. It is curious in its way, and
I would suggest to some one who possesses suf-
ficient leisure for the task, that a collection of

Vlll

early tracts on cookery, including this, would be
a curious and even valuable addition to archaeo-
logical literature. Those who are engaged in
researches of this nature, frequently feel a diffi-
culty in ascertaining the precise meaning of early
technical terms in the various arts and sciences ;
the inconvenience of which would at least be con-
siderably decreased by compilations of the kind
just mentioned.

J. 0. H.

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

HERE BEGYNNETHE THE FIRST BOKE OF
CURTASYE.

Qwoso wylle of curtasy lere,

In this boke he may hit here;

Yf thow be gentylmon, 3omon, or knave,

The nedis nurture for to have.

Whenne thou comes to a lordis 3ate,

The porter thou shalle fynde therate;

Take hym thow shalt thy wepyn tho,

And aske hym leve in to go,

To speke with lorde, lady, squyer, or grome,

Ther to the nedys to take the tome;

ffor yf he be of logh degre,

Than hym falles to come to the;

Yf he be gentylmon of kynne,

The porter wille lede the to hym.

10

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

When thow come tho halle dor to, 15

Do of thy hode, thy gloves also;

Yf tho halle be at the furst mete, .

This lessoun loke thou no5t fo^ete,

The stuard, countroller, and tresurere,

Sittand at de deshe, thou haylse in fere. 20

Within the halle sett on ayther side,

Sitten other gentylmen as falle that tyde;

Enclyne the fayre to horn also,

ffirst to the ry3ht honde thou shalle go,

Sitthen to the left bond thy negh thou cast, 25

To horn thou bogh withouten wrast;

Take hede to 3omon on thy ryght honde,

And sithen byfore the serene thou stonde,

In myddys the halle opon the flore,

Whille marshalle or ussher come fro the dore, 30

And bydde the sitte or to borde the lede.

Be stabulle of chere for menske, y rede;

Yf he the sette at gentilmonnes borde,

Loke thou be hynde and lytulle of worde.

Pare thy brede and kerne in two, 35

Tho over crust tho nether fro;

In fowre thou kutt tho over dole,

Sett horn togedur as hit where hole;

Sithen kutt tho nether crust in thre,

And turne hit downe, lerne this at me. 40

And lay thy trenchour the before,

And sitt upry3ht for any sore.

Spare brede or wyne, drynke or ale,

To thy messe of kochyne be sett in sale;

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Lest men sayne thou art honge betene, 45

Or ellis a gloten that alle men wytene.

Loke thy naylys ben clene in blythe,

Lest thy felaghe lothe ther wyth.

Byt not on thy brede and lay hit doun,

That is no curtesye to use in towne; 50

But breke as myche as thou wylle ete,

The remelant to pore thou shalle lete.

In peese thou ete, and ever eschewe

To flyte at borde, that may the rewe;

If thou make mawes on any wyse, 55

A velany thou kacches or ever thou rise.

Let never thy cheke be made to grete,

With morselle of brede that thou shalle ete ;

An apys mow men sayne he makes,

That brede and fleshe in hys eheke bakes. GO

Yf any manne speke that tyme to the,

And thou schalle onsware, hit wille not be,

But waloande and abyde thou most,

That is a schame for alle the host.

On bothe halfe thy mouthe, yf that thou ete, 65

Mony a skorne shalle thou gete.

Thou shalle not lai^he ne speke no thyng,

Whille thi mouthe be fulle of mete or drynke ;

Ne suppe not with grete sowndyng,

Nother potage ne other thyng. 70

Let not thi spone stond in thy dysche,

Whether thou be served with fleshe or fische j

Ne lay hit not on thy dishe syde,

But dense hit honestly withouten pride.

B2

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Loke no browyng on thy fynger pore, 75

Befoule the clothe the before.

In thi dysche yf thou wete thy brede,

Loke therof that no3t be lede,

To cast agayne thy dysche into,

Thou art unhynde yf thou do so. so

Drye thy niouthe ay wele and fynde,

When thou shalle drynke other ale or wyne.

Ne calle thou no3t a dysche a3ayne,

That ys take fro the borde in playne;

3if thou spit on the borde or elle opone, 85

Thou shalle be holden an uncurtayse mon;

Yy thy nowne dogge thou scrape or clawe,

That is holden a vyse emong men knawe;

Yf thy nose thou dense, as may befalle,

Loke thy honde thou dense wythalle, 90

Prively with skyrt do hit away,

Or ellis thurgh thi tepet that is so gay.

Clense not thi tethe at mete sittande,

With knyfe ne stre, styk ne wande.

While thou holdes mete in mouthe, be war 95

To drynke, that is anhonest char,

And also fysike forbedes hit,

And sais thou may be choket at that byt;

Yf hit go thy wrang throte into,

And stappe thy wynde, thou art fordo. 100

Ne telle thou never at borde no tale,

To harme or shame thy felawe in sale ;

ifor if he then witholde his methe,

Eftsone he wylle forcast thi dethe.

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Whereso them sitt at mete in borde, 105

Avoide the cat at on bare worde,

ffor yf thou stroke cat other dogge,

Thou art lyke an ape teyzed with a clogge.

Also eschewe, withouten stryfe,

To foule the borde-clothe with thy knyfe ; 110

Ne blow not on thy drynke ne mete,

Nether for colde, nether for hete;

With mete ne bere thy knyfe to mowthe,

Whether thou be sett be strong or couthe;

Ne with tho borde do the thi tethe thou wype, 115

Ne thy nyen that rennen rede as may betyde.

Yf thou sitt by a ry3ht good manne,

This lessoun loke thou thenke apone.

Undur his the3gh thy kne not pit,

Thou ar fulle lewed, yf thou dose hit; 120

Ne bacwarde sittande gyf no3t thy cupe,

Nother to drynke, nother to suppe.

Bidde thi frende take cuppe and drynke,

That is holden an honest thyng.

Lene not on elbowe at thy mete, 125

Nother for colde ne for hete;

Dip not thi thombe thy drynke into,

Thou art uncurtayse yf thou hit do;

In salt-saler yf that thou pit,

Other fisshe or flesshe that men may wyt, 130

That is a vyce as men me telles,

And gret wonder hit most be elles.

After mete when thou shalt wasshe,

Spitt not in basyn ne water thou dasskc;

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Ne spit not lorely for no kyn mede, 135

Before no mon of God for drede.

Whosoever despise this lessoun ryjt,

At borde to sitt he hase no myjt;

Here endys now our fyrst talkyng,

Crist graunt us alle his dere blessyng ! 140

HERE ENDITHE THE [FIRST] BOKE OF CURTASYE.

THE BOKE OF CURTASVK.

THE SECONDS BOKE.

YFF that thou be a 3ong enfaunt,

And thenke tho scoles for to haunt,

This lessoun schulle thy maister the merke,

Cros Crist the spede in alle thi werke;

Sytthen thy Pater Noster he wille the teche, 145

As Cristes owne postles con preche;

After thy Ave Maria and tin Crede,

That shalle the save at dome of drede;

Thenne aftur to blesse the with the Trinite,

In nomine Patris teche he wille the; 150

Then with Marke, Mathew, Luke, and Jon,

With the pro cruce and the hegh name;

To shryve the in general thou schalle lere,

Thy confiteor and miser eatur in fere;

To seche the kyngdam of God, my chylde, 155

Thereto y rede thou be not wylde.

Therfore worschip God, bothe olde and 3ong,

To be in body and soule y-liche strong.

When thou comes to the churche dore,

Take the haly water stondand on flore ; 160

Rede or synge or byd prayeris

To Crist, for alle thy Crysten ferys ;

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Be curtayse to God, and knele doun

On botlie knees with grete devocioun.

To mon thou shalle knele opon the toun, 165

The tother to thyself thou halde alone.

When thou ministers at the hegh autere,

With bothe hondes thou serve tho prest in fere,

The ton to stabulle, the tother

Lest thou fayle, my dere brother. 170

Another curtasye y wylle the teche,

Thy fadur and modur, with mylde speche,

Thou worschip and serve with alle thy my3t,

That thou dwelle the lengur in erthely lyyt.

To another man do no more amys, 175

Then thou woldys be done of hym and hys,

So Crist thou pleses, and gets the love

Of menne and God that syttes above.

Be not to meke, but in mene the holde,

ffor ellis a fole thou wylle be tolde. iso

He that to ry3twysnes wylle enclyne,

As holy wry3t says us wele and fyne,

His sede schalle never go seche nor brede,

Ne suffur of mon no shames dede.

To forgyf thou shalle the hast, is5

To venjaunce loke thou come on last;

Draw the to pese with alle thy strengthe.

ffro stryf and bate draw the on lengthe.

Yf mon aske the good for Goddys sake,

And the wont thyng wherof to take, 190

Gyf hym bone wordys on fayre manere,

With glad semblaint and pure good cher.

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE. 9

Also of service thou shalle be fre

To every mon in hys degre.

Thou schalle never lose for to be kynde, 195

That on fo^ets another hase in mynde.

Yf any man have part with the in gyft,

With hym thou make an even skyft ;

Let hit not henge in honde for glose,

Thou art uncurtayse yf thou hyt dose. 200

To sayntes yf thou thy gate hase hy3t,

Thou schalle fulfylle hit with alle thy my3t,

Lest God the stryk with grete venjaunce,

And pyt the into sore penaunce.

Leve not alle men that speke the fayre, 205

Whether that hit ben comyns, burges, or mayr;

In swete wordis the nedder was closet,

Disseyvaunt ever and mysloset ;

Therfore thou art of Adams blode,

With wordis be ware, but thou be wode : 210

A short worde is comynly sothe,

That first slydes fro monnes tothe.

Loke lyjer never that thou become,

Kepe thys worde for alle and somme.

Lawje not to of[t] for no solace, 215

ffor no kyn myrth that any man mase ;

Who lawes alle that men may se,

A schrew or a fole hym semes to be.

Thre enmys in thys world ther are,

That coveytene alle men to for-fare, — 220

The devel, the flesshe, the worlde also,

That wyrken mankynde ful mykyl wo :

10 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Yf thou may strye these thre enmys,

Thou may be secur of hevene blys.

Also, my chylde, agaynes thy lorde 220

Loke thou stryfe with no kyn worde,

Ne wajour non with hym thou lay,

Ne at the dyces with him to play.

Hym that thou knawes of gretter state,

Be not hys felaw in rest ne bate. 230

5if thou be stad in strange contre,

Enserche no fyr then falle to the,

Ne take no more to do on honde,

Then thou may hafe menske of alle in londe.

3if thou se any mon fal by strete, 235

Lawegh not therat in drye ne wete,

But helpe hym up with all thy myjt,

As Seynt Ambrose the teches ry3t :

Thou that stondys so sure on sete,

Ware lest thy hede falle to thy fete. 240

My chylde, yf thou stonde at tho masse,

Ac undurstondis bothe more and lasse,

Yf tho prest rede not at thy wylle,

Repreve hym nojt, but holde the stylle.

To any wy3t thy counselle yf thou schewe, 215

Be war that he be not a schrewe,

Lest he disclaundyr the with tong,

Amonge alle men, bothe olde and jong.

Bekenyng fynguryng non thou use,

And pryve rownyng loke thou refuse. 2."»n

Yf thou mete kny5t, 3omon, or knave,

llalys hym anon, " Syre, God 3ou save."

11

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Yf he speke fyrst opon the pore,

Onsware hym gladly withouten more.

Go not forthe as a dombe freke, 255

Syn God has left the tonge to speke ;

Lest menne sey be sibbe or couthe,

3ond is a mon withouten mouthe.

Speke never unhonestly of woman kynde,

Ne let hit never renne in thy mynde; 260

The boke hym calle a chorle of chere,

That vylany spekes be wemen sere:

ffor alle we ben of wymmen borne,

And oure fadurs us beforne ;

Therfor hit is a unhonest thyng 265

To speke of hem in any hething.

Also a wyfe be falle of ry3t,

To worschyp hyr husbonde bothe day and ny3t,

To his byddyng be obediente,

And hym to serve withouten offence. 270

Yf two brether be at debate,

Loke nother thou forther in hor hate,

But helpe to staunche horn of malice,

Then thou art frende to bothe i-wys.

jif thou go with another at tho gate, 275

And 36 be bothe of on astate,

Be curtasye and let hym have the way,

That is no vylany e, as men me say;

And he be comen of gret kynraden,

Go no before thawgh thou be beden ; 280

And yf that he thy maystur be,

Go not before, for curtase,

1 2 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Nother in fylde, wode, nother launde,

Ne even hym with, but he commaunde.

Yf thou schalle on pilgrimage go, 28.5

Be not the thryd felaw for wele ne wo ;

Thre oxen in plowgh may never wel drawe,

Nother be craft, ryjt, ne lawe.

3if thou be profert to drynk of cup,

Drynke not al of, ne no way sup ; 2W

Drynk menskely and gyf agayne,

That is a curtasye, to speke in playne.

In bedde yf thou falle herberet to be,

With felawe, maystur, or her degre,

Thou shalt enquer be curtasye 295

In what part of the bedde he wylle lye;

Be honest and lye thou fer hym fro,

Thou art not wyse but thou do so.

With woso menne, bothe fer and negh,

The falle to go, loke thou be slegh 300

To aske his nome and qweche he be,

Whidur he will kepe welle thes thre.

With freres on pilgrimage yf that thou go,

That thei will 3yme wilne thou also,

Als on nyjt thou take thy rest, :nv,

And byde the day as tru mannes gest.

In no kyn house that rede-mon is,

Ne womon of tho same colour y-wys,

Take never thy innes for no kyn nede,

ffor those be folke that ar to drede. 310

Yf any thurgh sturnes the oppose,

Onswere hym mekely and make hym glose,

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE. 1 3

But glosand wordy s that falsed is,

fforsake and alle that is omys.

Also yf thou have a lorde, sis

And stondes byfore hym at the borde,

While that thou speke kepe well thy honde,

Thy fete also in pece let stonde;

His curtase nede he most breke,

Stirraunt fyngurs too when he shall speke. 320

Be stabulle of chere and sumwhat Iy3t,

Ne over alle wayne thou not thy sy5t.

Gase not on walles with thy negh,

ffyr ne negh, logh ne hegh;

Let not the post becum thy staf, 325

Lest thou be callet a dotet daf ;

Ne delf thou never nose thyrle

With thombe ne fyngur, as 5ong gyrle;

Rob not thy arme ne no3t hit claw,

Ne bogh not done thy hede to law; :r,o

Whil any man spekes with grete besenes,

Herken his wordis withouten distresse.

By strete or way yf thou shalle go,

ffro thes two thynges thou kepe the fro, —

Nother to harme chylde ne best, 33.5

With castyng, turnyng west ne est ;

Ne chaunge thou not in face coloure,

ffor lyghtnes of worde in halle ne boure;

Yf thy vysage chaunge for nojt,

Men say the trespas thou hase wro3ght. 340

Byfore thy lorde ne mawes thou make,

3if thou wyll curtasie with the take.

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

With hondes unwasshen take never thy mete,

ffro alle thes vices loke thou the kepe.

Loke thou sytt and make no stryf, 345

Where tho est commaundys or ellis tho wyf.

Eschewe the hejest place with wyn,

But thou be beden to sitt therm.

Of curtasie here endis the secunde fyt,

To heven Crist mot oure saules flyt ! 350

THE BOKE OF CURTASYK. | 5

THE THIRD BOKE.

DE OFFICIAKIIS IN GURUS DOMORUM.

Now speke we wylle of officiers

Of court, and als of her mestiers.

ffoure men tlier be that jerdis schall bere,

Porter, marshalle, stuarde, usshere;

The porter schalle have the longest wande, 355

The marshalle a shorter schalle have in hande;

The ussher of chamber smallest schalle have,

The stuarde in honde schalle have a state,

A fyngur gret, two wharters long,

To reule the menne of court ymong. :wo

DE JANITORE.

THE porter falle to kepe tho jate,
The stokkes with hym eiiy and late;
jif any manne hase in court mysgayne,
To porter-warde he schall be tane,
Ther to abyde the lordes wylle,
What he wille deme by ryjtvvys skylle.
ffor wesselle clothes, that no3t be solde,
The porter hase that warde in holdc.

1 6 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Of strangers also that comen to court,

Tho porter schall warne ther at a worde. 370

Lyveray he base of mete and drynke,

And setts with hym whoso hym thynke.

When so ever tho lorde remewe schalle

To castell til other as hit may falle,

ffor cariage the porter hors schall hyre, 375

ffoure pens a pece within tho schyre;

Be statut he schalle take that on the day,

That is the kynges crye in faye.

DE MARESCALLO

Now of marschalle of halle wylle I spelle,

And what falle to hys offyce now wylle ytelle; 380

In absence of stuarde he shalle arest

Whosoever is rebelle in court or fest ;

jomon, usshere, and grome also,

Undur hym ar thes two:

Tho grome for fuelle that schalle brenne 385

In halle, chambur, to kechyn, as I the kenne,

He shalle delyver hit ilke a dele,

In halle make fyre at yche a mele ;

Borde, trestuls, and formes also,

The cupborde in his warde schalle go, MO

The dosurs cortines to henge in halle,

Thes offices nede do he schalle ;

Bryng in fyre on Alhalawgh day,

To Candulmas even, I dar welle say.

THE BOKE OF CURT AS YE. 17

PER QUANTUM TEMPUS ARMIGERI HABENT
LIBERATAM ET IGNIS ARDEBIT IN AULA.

So longe squiers lyveres shalle hafe, 395

Of grome of halle or ellis his knafe ;

But fyre shalle brenne in halle at mete,

To cena Domini that men hase ete ;

Ther brow5t schalle be a holyn kene,

That sett schalle be in erber grene, 400

And that schalle be to Alhalawgh day,

And of be skyfted, as y the say.

In halle marshalle alle men schalle sett

After here degre, withouten lett.

DE PINCERNARIO, PANETARIO, ET COCIS SIBI
SERVIENTIBUS.

THE botelar, pantrer, and cokes also, 405

To hym ar servauntes withouten mo ;

Therfore on his 3erde skore schalle he

Alle messys in halle that servet be,

Commaunde to sett bothe brede and ale

To alle men that servet ben in sale ; 410

To gentilmen with wyne i-bake,

Ellis fayles tho service, y undertake;

Iche messe at vjd. brene shalle be,

At the countyng house with other mene ;

Yf tho koke wolde say that were more, 415

That is tho cause that he hase hit in skore.

18 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

The panter also yf he wolde stryfe,

fFor rewarde that sett schalle be be-lyve.

Whenne brede faylys at borde aboute,

The marshalle gares sett withouten doute 420

More brede, that calde is a rewarde,

So shalle hit be prevet before stuarde.

DE OFFICIO PINCERNAEII.

BOTLER shalle sett for yche a messe

A pot, a lofe, withouten distresse;

Botler, pantrer, felawes ar ay, 425

Reken horn togedur fulle wel y may.

The marshalle shalle herber alle men in fere,

That ben of court of any mestere ;

Save the lordys chambur, tho wadrop to,

Tho ussher of chambur schalle tent tho two. 430

DE HOSTIARIO ET SUIS SERVIENTIBUS.

SPEKE I wylle a lytulle qwyle
Of ussher of chambur, withouten gyle.
This gentylmen, 3omon, ussher also,
Two gromes at tho lest, a page therto.

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE. 19

DE OFFICIO GARCIONUM.

GROMES palettes shyn fyle and make litere, 433

ix. fote on lengthe without diswere ;

vij. fote y-wys hit shalle be brode,

Wele watered, i-wrythen, be craft y-trode.

Wyspes drawen out at fete and syde,

Wele wrethyn and turnyd a3ayne that tyde. 440

On legh unsonken hit shalle be made,

To tho gurdyl-stode hegh on lengthe and brade ;

ffor lordys two beddys schalle be made,

Bothe utter and inner, so God me glade !

That henget shalle be with hole sylour, 445

With crochettes and loupys sett on lyour;

Tho valance on fylour shalle henge with wyn,

iij. curteyns stre3t drawen withinne,

That reche schalle even to grounde aboute,

Nother more, nother lesse, withouten doute; 450

He strykes horn up with forket wande,

And lappes up fast aboute the lyft hande.

Tho knop up turnes and closes on ry5t,

As bolde by nek that henges fulle lyjt.

Tho counturpynt he lays on beddys fete, 455

Qwysshenes on sydes shyn lye fulle mete.

Tapetes of Spayne on flore by syde,

That sprad shyn be for pompe and pryde;

Tho chambur sydes ryjt to tho dore,

He henges with tapetes that ben fulle store; 460

And fuel to chymne hym falle to gete,

And streves in clof to y-save tho hete.

c2

20 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

ffro tho lorde at mete when lie is sett,

Borde, trestuls, and fourmes, withouten let ;

Alle thes thynges kepe schalle he, 465

And water in chafer for lay dyes fre;

iij. perchers of wax then shalle he fet,

Above tho chymne yt be sett,

In syce ichone from other shalle be

The lenghthe of other that men may se, 470

To brenne, to voide, that dronkyn is,

Other ellis I wote he dose amys.

Tho ussher alleway shalle sitt at dore

At mete, and walke schalle on the flore,

To se that alle be servet on ry3t, 475

That is his office be day and nyjt;

And byd set borde when tyme schalle be,

And take horn up when tyme ses he.

The wardrop he herbers and eke of chambur

Ladyes with bedys of coralle and lambur, 480

Tho usshere schalle bydde tho wardropere

Make redy for alle ny3t before the fere ;

Then brynges he forthe ny3t-gone also,

And spredys a tapet and qwysshens two,

He layes horn then opon a fourme, 485

And foteshete theron and hit returne.

Tho lorde schalle skyft hys gowne at ny5t,

Syttand on foteshete tyl he be dy3t.

Then ussher gose to tho botre,

" Have in for alle ny3t, syr," says he ; 490

ffyrst to the chaundeler he sclmllc «r<>,

To take a tortes Iy3t hyui fro;

THE BOKE OF CURTASYK. W2l

Bothe wyne and ale he tase indede,

Tho botler says, withouten drede,

No mete for mon schalle sayed be, 495

Bot for kynge or prynce or duke so fre;

ffor heiers of paraunce also y-wys,

Mete shalle be sayed, now thenkys on this.

Then to pantre he hyjes be-lyve,

" Syrs, have in withouten stryffe ;" 600

Manchet and chet bred he shalle take,

Tho pantere assayes that hit be bake;

A morter of wax 3et wille he bryng,

ffro chambur, syr, without lesyng;

That alle nyjt brennes in bassyn clere, 505

To save tho chambur on ny3t for fyre.

Then 3omon of chambur shynne voyde with ryme,

The torches han holden wele that tyme;

Tho chambur dore stekes tho vssher thenne,

With priket and tortes that conne brenne; 510

ffro cupborde he brynges bothe brede and wyne,

And fyrst assayes hit wele a fyne.

But fyrst the lorde shalle vasshe i-wys,

ffro tho fyr hous when he comen is;

Then kneles the ussher and gyfes hym drynke, 515

Brynges hym in bed where he shalle wynke;

In strong styd on palet he lay,

At home tase lefe and gose his way;

jomon ussher before the dore,

In utter chambur lies on the flore. aao

22 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

DE SENESCHALLO.

Now speke I wylle of tho stuarde als,

ffew ar trew, but fele ar fals.

Tho clerke of kechyn countrollour,

Stuarde, coke, and surveyour,

Assenten in counselle, withouten skorne, 5-25

How tho lorde schalle fare at mete tho raorne;

Yf any deyntethe in countre be,

Tho stuarde shewes hit to tho lorde so fre,

And gares by hyt for any cost,

Hit were grete syn and hit were lost. 530

Byfore the cours tho stuarde comes then,

The server hit next of alle kyn men

Mays way and stondes by syde,

Tyl alle be served at that tyde.

At countyng stuarde schalle ben, 535

Tylle alle be brevet of wax so grene,

Wrytten into bokes, without let,

That before in tabuls hase ben sett,

Tyl countes also theron ben cast,

And somet up holy at tho last. 540

DE CONTKAROTULATORE.

THO countrollour shalle wryte to hym,
Taunt resten, no more I myn ;
And taunt dispendu that same day,
Uncountabulle h<- is. as y 5011 say.

THE BOKE OP CURTASYE. 2o

DE SUPERVISORS

SURVEOUR and stuarde also, 545

Thes thre folke and no mo,

ffor nojt resayne, bot ever sene

That nothyng fayle and alle be whene;

That tho clerke of kechyn schulde not mys,

Therfore tho countrollour, as hafe I blys, 550

Wrytes up tho somme as every day,

And helpes to count, as I jou say.

DE CLERICO COQUIN.E.

THE clerke of the cochyne shalle alle thyng breve,

Of men of court, bothe lothe and leve,

Of achater and dispenses then wrytes he, 555

And wages for gromes and 3emen fre;

At dressour also he shalle stonde,

And fett forthe mete dresset with honde;

The spicery and store with hym shalle dwelle,

And mony thynges als, as I nojt telle; 560

ffor clethyng of officers alle in fere,

Save the lorde hymself and ladys dere.

DE CANCELLARIO.

THE chaunceler answeres for hor clothyng,
ffor 3omen, faukeners, and hor horsyng;
ffor his wardrop and wages also,
And asseles patentes mony and rno;

THE BOKE OF CURT AS YE.

Yf tho lorde gyf 05! to terme of lyf,
The chaunceler hit seles withouten stryf ;
Tancomenosplerra menseyne, ihztisguando nos placet,
That is whille us lykes hym nojt omys, ' 570

Overse hys londes that alle be ryjt
On of tho grete he is of my3t.

DE THESAURIZARIO

Now speke y wylle of tresurer,

Husbonde and houswyf he is in fer;

Of the resayver he shalle resayne, 57.5

Alle that is gedurt of bayle and grayne;

Of the lordes courtes and forfetes als,

Whether thay ben ryjt or thay ben fals;

To tho clerke of cochen he payes mone,

For vetayle to bye opon tho countre. sso

The clerke to kater and pulter is,

To baker and butler bothe y-wys;

Gyffys selver to bye in alle thyng

Tluit longes to here office, withouten lesyng;

The tresurer schalle gyfe alkyn wage, 53.3

To squyer, jomon, grome, or page;

Tho resayver and tho tresurer,

Tho clerke of cochyn and chaunceler,

Graynis, and baylys, and parker,

Echone come to acountes every 361*6 590

Byfore tho auditour of tho lorde onone,

That shulde be trew as any stone;

Yf he dose horn no ryjt lele,

To a baron of chekker thay iniiii hit pdr.

THE DOKE OF CURTASYE.

DE RECEPTORE FIRMARUM.

OF the resayver speke wylle I,
That fermys resayvys wytturly;
Of graynys and honi aquetons makes,
Sex-pons therfore to feys he takes,
And pays feys to parkers als i-wys,
Therof at acountes he loved is.
And overseys castels, maners aboute,
That nojt falle within ne withoute.
Now let we thes officers be,
And telle we wylle of smaller mene.

595

600

DE AVENARIO.

THE aveyner schalle ordeyn provande good won, 005

ffor tho lordys horsis everychon ;

Thay schyn have two cast of hay,

A pek of provande on a day;

Every horse schalle so muche have,

At racke and manger that standes with stave. 6io

A maystur of horsys a squyer ther is,

Aveyner and ferour undur hym i-wys;

Those jomen that olde sadels schyn have,

That schyn be last for kny3t and knave,

ffor yche a hors that ferroure schalle scho, 615

An halpeny on day he takes hym to;

Undur ben gromes and pages mony one,

That ben at wage everychone;

26 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Som at two-pons on a day,

And som at iij. ob., I 5011 say; 620

Mony of hem fotemen ther ben,

That rennen by the brydels of ladys schene.

DE PISTORE.

OF tho baker now speke y wylle,

And wat longes his office untylle;

Of a Lunden buschelle he shalle bake 625

xx. lovys, I undurtake ;

Manchet and chet to make brom bred hard,

ffor chaundeler and grehoundes and huntes reward.

DE VENATORE ET SUIS CANIBUS.

A HALPENY tho hunte takes on the day

ffor every hounde, tho sothe to say; 630

Tho vewter two cast of brede he tase,

Two lesshe of grehoundes, yf that he hase;

To yche a bone that is to telle,

If I to 3011 the sothe shalle spelle;

Bysyde hys vantage that may befalle, 635

Of skynnes and other thynges withalle,

That huntes con telle better than I,

Therfore I leve hit wytt[ur]ly.

DE AQUARIO.

AND speke I wylle of other mystere
That falles to court, as 50 mun here; r,.io

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE. 27

An euwer in halle there nedys to be,
And chandelew schalle have and alle napere;
He schalle gef water to gentilmen,
And als in alle jomen.

QUI DENT MANUS LAVARE ET IN QUORUM
DOMIBUS.

IN kynges court and dukes also, 645

Ther 3 omen schynne wasshe and no mo;

In duke Jonys house a 3oman ther was,

ffor his rewarde prayde suche a grace;

The duke gete graunt therof in londe,

Of the kyng his fader, I undudurstonde; (sic) 650

Wosoever gefes water in lordys chamber,

In presens of lorde or levede dere,

He schalle knele downe opone his kne,

Ellys he fo^etes his curtase ;

This euwer schalle hele his lordes borde, 655

With dowbulle napere at on bare worde:

The selvage to tho lordes side withinne,

And doune schalle heng that other may wynne;

Tho over nape schalle dowbulle be layde,

To tho uttur syde the selvage brade; 660

Tho over selvage he schalle replye,

As towelle hit were fayrest in hye ;

Browers he schalle cast theropon,

That the lorde schulle dense his fyngers [on],

The levedy and whosever syttes withinne, 665

Alle browers schynne have bothe more and mynne.

28 THE BOKE OF CURTASYK.

DE PANETARIO.

THENNE comes the pantere with loves thro,

That square are corvyn of trenchour fre,

To sett withinne and oon withoute,

And sailer y-coveryd and sett in route; 670

With tho ovemast lofe hit shalle be sett,

Withoute forthe square, withouten lett;

Two kervyng knyfes withoute one,

The thrydde to tho lorde, and als a spone.

DE CULTELLIS DOMINI.

OF tho two tho haftes schynne outwarde be, 675

Of the thrydde the hafte inwarde lays he,

The spony stele ther by schalle be layde,

Moo loves of trenchirres at a brayde;

He settes and servys evyr in fere

To duches his wyne that is so dere ; 680

Two loves of trenchers and salt tho,

He settes before his son also;

A lofe of trenchours and salt on last,

At bordes ende he settes in hast;

Then brede he brynges in towelle wrythyne, 685

Thre lofys of tho wyte schalle be gevyne;

A chet lofe to tho elmys dyshe,

Wether he servyd be with flesshe or fysche;

At ather ende he castes a cope,

Layde downe on borcle, tho ondys plyrd up. r>oo

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE. 2!)

That he assayes knelande on kne,

Tho kerver hym parys a schyver so fre;

And touches tho lovys yn quere aboute,

Tho pantere hit etys withoute dowte;

Tho euwere thurgh towelle syles clene,

His water into tho bassynges shene;

Tho over bassyn theron schalle close,

A towelle theron, as I suppose,

That folden schalle be with fulle grete lore,

Two quarters on lenkethe and sumdele more; TOO

A qwyte cuppe of tre therby shalle be,

Therwith tho water assay schalle he;

Quelmes hit agayn byfore alle men ;

Tho kerver the bassynges tase up thenne;

Annaunciande sqyer, or ellis a knyjt, 705

Tho towelle downe tase by fulle good ry5t;

Tho cuppe he tase in honde also,

Tho kerver powres wat[er] the cuppe into;

The knyjt to tho kerver haldes anon,

He says hit are he more schalle done; 710

Tho cuppe then voyde is in tho flette,

The euwer hit takes withouten lette.

The towelle two kny3htes schyn halde in fere,

Before the lordes sieves, that ben so dere;

The over bassyn thay halde never the queder, 715

Quylle tho kerver powre water into the nedur.

ffor a pype ther is insyde so clene,

That water devoydes, of selver schene ;

Then settes he the nethyr, I und[u]rstonde,

In the over, and voydes with bothe is honde ; 720

30 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

And brynges to the euwer that he come fro;

To tho lordys bordes a3ayn con go;

And layes iiij. trenchours tho lorde before,

The fyft above by good lore;

By hymself thre schalle he dresse,

To cut opon the lordes messe;

Smale towelle aboute his necke shalle bene,

To clens his knyfys that ben so kene.

DE ELEMOSINARIO.

THE aumenere by this hathe sayde grace,

And tho almes dysshe hase sett in place; 730

Therin the kerver a lofe schalle sette,

To serve God fyrst withouten lette;

These other lofes he parys aboute,

Lays hit myd dysshe withouten doute.

The smalle lofe he cuttes even in twynne, 735

Tho over dole in two lays to hym.

The aumenere a rod schalle have in honde,

As office for alnies, y undurstonde.

Alle the broken met he kepys y wate,

To dele to pore men at the jate, 7-10

And drynke that leves served in halle;

Of ryche and pore bothe grete and smalle.

He is sworne to overse the servis wele,

And dele hit to the pore every dele;

Selver he deles rydand by way; T-I-J

And his almys- dysshe, as I 3ou say,

To the porest man that he can fynde,

Other ellys I wot he is unkynde.

THE BOKE OP Cl'RTASYK. :{ 1

DE FEKCULARIO.

THIS wyle tho squyer to kechyn shalle go,

And brynges a bof for assay tho;

Tho coke assayes the mete ungry3t,

Tho sewer he takes and kovers on ryjt;

Wosoever he takes that mete to bere,

Schalle not so hardy tho covertoure rere,

ffor colde ne hote, I warne jou alle, 755

ffor suspecyone of treson as may befalle.

Yf tho sylver dysshe wylle algate brenne,

A sotelte I wylle the kenne,

Take the bredde corvyn and lay bytwene,

And kepe the welle hit be not sene; 700

I teche hit for no curtayse,

But for thyn ese.

When the sewer comys unto the borde,

Alle the mete he sayes at on bare worde,

The potage fyrst with brede y-corvyn, 715.1

Coverys horn agayn lest they ben storvyn;

With fysshe or flessh yf be served,

A morselle therof shalle he be kervyd;

And touche the messe over alle aboute,

The sewer hit etes withouten doute. 770

With baken mete yf he servyd be tho,

Tho lydes up-rered or he fyr go,

The past or pye he sayes withinne,

Dippes bredde in grave no more ne mynne;

3if the baken mete be colde, as may byfalle, 775

A gobet of tho self he sayes withal! e.

32 THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

But thou that berys mete in hande,

Yf tho sewer stonde, loke thou stande ;

Yf he knele, knele thou so long for O3t,

Tylle mete be sayde that thou hase broght. /so

As oft at hegh borde yf brede be nede,

The butler two lovys takys indede;

That on settes down, that other agayn

He barys to cupborde in towelle playn.

As oft as the kerver fettys drynke, 785

The butler assayes hit how good hym thynke;

In the lordys cupp that levys undrynken,

Into the almes-disshe hit schalle be sonken.

The kerver anon withouten thou3t,

Unkovers the cup that he hase broujt; 790

Into the covertoure wyn he powres owt,

Or into a spare pece, withouten doute ;

Assayes, an gefes tho lorde to drynke,

Or settes hit doun as hym goode thynke.

Tho kerver schalle kerve tho lordes mete, 795

Of what kyn pece that he wylle ete;

And on hys trenchour he hit layes,

On thys maner without displayes;

In almes-dysshe he layes yche dele,

That he is with served at tho mele; soo

But he sende hit to ony strongere,

A pese that is hym leve and dere,

And send hys potage also,

That schalle not to the almes go.

Of kerver more, yf I shulde telle, 805

Another fytt thenne most I spello.

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

Therfore I let hit here over passe,

To make oure talkyng summedelasse.

When the lorde hase eten, tho sewer schalle bryng

Tho surnape on his schulder ryng, sio

A narew towelle, a brode besyde,

And of hys hondes he lettes hit slyde;

The ussher ledes that on hed ry5t,

Tho aumener tho other away shalle dyjt.

When the ussher comys to the borde ende, 815

Tho narow towelle he strecches unkende;

Before tho lorde and the lady so dere,

Dowbelle he playes tho towelle pere;

Whenne thay have wasshen and grace is sayde,

Away he takes at a brayde; 820

Awoydes tho borde into tho flore,

Tase away tho trestes that ben so store.

DE CANDELARIO.

Now speke I wylle a lytulle whyle

Of tho chandeler, withouten gyle,

That torches and tortes and preketes con make, 825

Perchours, smale condel, I undertake;

Of wax these candels alle that brennen,

And morter of wax that I wele kenne ;

Tho snof of horn dose away

With close sesours, as I 3ow say; s:to

The sesours ben schort and rownde y-close,

With plate of irne upon bose;

D

THE BOKE OF CURTASYE.

In chambur no lyjt ther shalle be brent.
Bot of wax therto, yf 36 take tent ;
In halle at soper schalle caldels breinie 835

Of Paiys, therin that alle men kenne ;
Iclie messe a candelle fro Alhalawghe day
To Candelmesse, as I 3011 say;
Of candel liveray squiyers schalle have.
So long, if hit is mon wille krave. s 10

Of brede and ale also the boteler
Schalle make lyvere thurghout the 3ere
To squyers, and also wyn to kny3t,
Or ellys he dose not his office ry$t.
Here endys the thryd speche, — 845

Of alle oure synnes Cryst be oure leclie.
And bryng us to his vonyng place !
Amen, sayes 36, for hys grete grace !
Amen, par charite.

{'. KICIIAIiOS, 1'UIXI I' U, S'l . MAK'JlN's 1. A > 1 .

Halliwell, James Creditor PR

II2o
The book of curtasye «R4